Nest-trap.



C. L. GRANT.

NEST TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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CHARLES LEWIsG-RAN T tinrrn s rarrs Em: Eton.

NEST-TRAR re erses.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Application filed April 26, 1913. Serial No. 763,864.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that 1, CHARLES LEWIS GRANT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Merchantville, in the county of Gamden and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements inNest-Traps, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying 'drawings.

This invention relates to trap nests and has for an object to provide atrap which may be applied to ordinary nest boxes in any preferred mannerand which will be compact in form and capable of being manufactured at aminimum cost.

A further object is to provide a trap which will render it impossiblefor more than one hen to enter the nest at one time, and whichfurthermore will be so constructed that no large openings will existthrough which an entrapped hen can thrust her head with resultant injuryin an effort to escape or through which a hen outside of the nest canthrust her head to annoy the occupant of the nest.

A still further object is to provide a trap which will afford ampleventilation and which will admit a subdued light, thereby giving thatsense of seclusion and privacy sought by all birds when they wish tolay.

A still further object is to provide a trap which will have noprotruding projections against which a hen might fly with resultantinjury, and which will be durable and formed of few and simple partsthat will not be liable to get out of order. And a still further objectof the invention is to provide a trap, the field of action of which willbe confined within the limits of its own dimensions and which will nottake up or occupy any space within the nest chamber when in action or atrest.

With the above objects in view, the invention consists of certain noveldetails of construction and combination of parts herescale unattachedand showing it closed as it is after the entrance of a hen. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 38, of Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 44,of Fig. 2'; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5,of F ig.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts, 10 designates the main frame which comprisesupper and lower bars 11 and 12 that are connected at the ends by sidebars 1 3 and 14. This main frame is sub stantially square in contour andmay be applied to the entrance opening of an ordinary nest in anypreferred manner.

A pair of vertical parallel guide rods 15 and 16 are secured terminallyin suitable openings formed in the inner edges of the upper and lowerbars of the main frame, such guide rods being disposed in closeproximity "to the inner edges of the side bars of the main frame.

A slide bar 17 is provided near the ends with suitable openings tosnugly receive bearing tubes 18 and 19 which loosely receive the guiderods 15 and 16 and permit of the slide bar sliding freely up and down onthe guide rods.

A curtain 20 is secured at the upper edge to the inner edge of the upperbar 11 of the main frame by means of tacks 21 or otherwise, and issecured at the lower edge to the upper edge of the slide bar 17 by tacks22 or otherwise, this curtain being sufficient in length to form aclosure for the main frame when the slide bar is resting upon the lowerbar 12 of the main frame when in dropped position. The curtain ispreferably hemmed on the side edges as shown at 23 and 24: to preventfraying, and equipped with rings 93 and 24 which encircle the rods 15and 16.

For holding the curtain raised to permit of a hen entering the nest, Iprovide a substantia-lly rightangular trigger 25 which is formed at theelbow with an eye 26 through which a securing pin 27 is passed, the pinbeing engaged in the front face of the upper bar of the main frame atsubstantially the center thereof. One end of the trigger is formed withan inwardly opening hook 28, and the opposite end is formed with aweight 29 that serves to normally hold the hooked end of the triggerrocked up as shown in Fig. 1. There is a pin 30 engaged in the frontface of the slide bar 17 at substantially the center thereof, and thispin receives the hook 28 of the trigger when the slide bar is raised, itbeing understood that the operator swings down the trigger to effectthis engagement.

As shown in Fig. 1, the trigger when engaged with the pin 80 holds theslide bar up and the curtain raised to permit of a hen entering thenest. Upon entering the nest the hen rubs against the slide bar with aresultant slight raising of the latter whereby the trigger is dislodged,and as the hen passes into the nest, the slide bar gravitates with aresultant dropping of the curtain behind her.

It is obvious that the entrapped hen cannot escape from the nest untilthe curtain is manually raised, and it is also obvious that a trapconstructed as above described will afford ample ventilation and admit asubdued light, while at the same time will be devoid of projections ofany character, and will further be devoid of large spaces through whichthe hen within the nest or a hen outside of the nest might thrust itshead with resultant injury.

It will be further apparent that a trap constructed as above describedis light, strong and durable and is formed of a few simple parts whichwill not easily get out of order.

What is claimed, is

1. A trap for nests including a main frame, parallel guide rods disposedwithin the inclosure of said frame, a gravitating slide bar secured tosaid guide rods, a curtain secured to said frame and to said slide bar,a rightangular trigger pivoted at the elbow on said frame above saidslide bar and having a hook at one end and a weight at the opposite endwhereby the hook is normally held rocked upwardly, and a pin carried bysaid slide bar, said hook being adapted to be rocked downwardly intoengagement with said pin for yieldably holding said slide bar raised.

2. A trap for nests including a main frame, parallel. guide rods carriedwithin the inclosure of said frame, a slide bar having bearing tubesnear the ends encircling said guide rods, a curtain secured to saidframe and to said slide bar, a pivot pin disposed at substantially thecenter of the upper bar of said frame, a rightangular trigger having aneye at the elbow encircling said pin, said trigger being formed with ahook at one end, and with a counterbalancing weight at the opposite endserving to hold said hook rocked upwardly, and a pin disposed atsubstantially the center of said slide bar, said trigger being adaptedto be manually rocked on said pivot pin until said hook engages withsaid pin whereby to yieldably hold said slide bar raised.

3. A trap for nests, including a main frame, parallel guide rods carriedwithin the inclosure of said frame, a slide bar movable on said guiderods, a curtain secured to said frame and to said slide bar, ringsconnected to the sides of the curtain and encircling and slidinglymounted upon the guide rods, a pivot pin disposed at substantially themiddle of the upper bar of said frame, a right angular trigger having aneye at the elbow encircling said pin, said trigger being formed with ahook at one end and provided at its opposite end with acountel'balancing weight serving to hold said hook rocked upwardly, anda pin disposed at substantially the center of said slide bar, saidtrigger being adapted to be manually rocked on said pivot pin until saidhook engages with said pin, whereby to yieldably hold the slide barraised.

at. A nest trap comprising a main frame, vertical guide elements securedto the frame, a gravitating bar movably connected to the guide elements,a curtain secured to said frame and to said bar, a right angular triggerpivotally connected at its elbow to the frame above said bar and havingmeans on one end for engaging the bar and being provided with means atits other end for swinging it through an angle of approximately 90degrees when released from its engagement with the bar.v

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CHARLES LEWIS GRANT. Witnesses:

L. RoEsoHER, R. M. SHERMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

